SOUTHEND Saxons full-back Iain Meads continued his free-scoring start to the season with two tries against table-topping Taunton on Saturday – but was still left feeling disappointed.

Meads touched down twice at Warners Bridge to make it five in the first five games of the new National Two South season.

But his efforts were not enough to prevent a 34-19 defeat, much to Meads’ frustration.

“I'm very disappointed as after a good performance in the previous week against Canterbury it felt like we didn't do ourselves justice on Saturday,” said Meads.

“It was even more disappointing because it was at home and, after a good start, we let it slip.

“We gave them a way back into the game with penalties, missed tackles and coughing up the ball in contact.

“We weren't able to build our phases which led to our attack not functioning as it should and we defended for a lot of the game which is very tiring so we need to make sure we bounce back from this when we go to Worthing at the weekend.”

Southend were initially on top against Taunton though, with Meads finishing off an excellent move after just four minutes.

Brad Burr converted the try to make it 7-0 before Taunton hit back with two penalties from full-back Gary Kingdom.

However, Meads soon took centre stage again with another well worked try which put Southend 12-6 in front.

But Taunton replied just five minutes later with a try from Nick May which reduced Southend’s lead to 12-11 at half-time.

After the break however, Taunton took control and scored 13 unanswered points.

Toby East scored a try, after two missed tackles, while Kingdom added the conversion and a penalty before East added a drop goal to put Taunton 24-12 in front.

Saxons eventually hit back with Burr’s chipped kick setting up Chris Vaughan to score a try which Burr converted but, just two minutes later, Taunton’s Lewis Webb broke through tackles to score a try which made it 29-19.

And the visitors completed the scoring right at the death when winger Jack Claydon also touched down to condemn ninth placed Southend to their first home defeat of the season.

Southend: Meads, Billings, Gay, Vaughan, Cleare, Burr, Daly, Strachan, Grier, Bevans-Royston, Barker, Legge, Fombo, Hudson, Twight

Replacements: Bailey, Day-White, Needham, Ashton & Branch